Image Up Advertising & Design

16 OUR YUCAIPA | MAY 2015 "They are trying to make it more multipurpose, but we already have the Community Center for that… a performing arts center is for shows." Plans for Yucaipa's new Performing Arts Center are well underway with final designs set to be submitted to the city building department as early as June. The 15,000 square foot building will be situated on part of a 2.9 acre lot at California Street and Acacia that the city acquired in May of 2014. The modern, craftsman style building will boast a nearly 300-seat theater on the main floor and will be fitted with a removable stage and foldaway chairs that can leave the floor area open as needed making the space usable for a variety of events. Upstairs, multi-purpose space will be available for different uses like dance and art classes, office space, and more, according to Paul Toomey, Yucaipa's Director of Community Development. "Opening up the center to a variety of uses could give us a years worth of planned entertainment and enable us to afford to pay the fees that would keep it going year round and offset costs," he said. Having a removable stage makes way for a large banquet space when needed that could seat 250 with tables, said Toomey. A warming kitchen is planned for catering and serving. "It's still designed in a way that it has a theater feel though," said Toomey. "A soft proscenium will frame the stage and the sets will be able to be nailed into the stage floor." Storage areas, dressing rooms, restrooms and even a green room will make the center functional for theater performances. Some theater groups, however, are less than thrilled with the final design. Members from Yucaipa Little Theatre, the Yucaipa Performing Arts Council, and Heartland Players Theatre met with city officials during the process to give advice on needed features for the center. The groups hoped for an orchestra pit, permanent stage, and hard proscenium arch that features scenery and holds curtains for the stage. Carolyn Duncan, board member for the Yucaipa Performing Arts Commission, said she is especially disappointed about the removable stage. "I don't understand why it has to be portable just to fit in more people for banquets. It was supposed to be a performing arts center, not a multipurpose use building," she said. "Even for classes or banquets there is always someone presenting at a podium, they might as well be on the stage for everyone to see." Duncan also pointed out that with multiple theaters competing for time, she sees the stage being in constant use. "The way I see it, this place is going to be busy constantly. There's going to be no time for banquets." Christine Presley, Yucaipa Little Theater board member said her group was also hoping for the permanent stage and orchestra pit. "It's very disappointing," she said. "We are just not going to be able to get traveling shows that need a pit and a permanent stage. We can only use piano music for our plays at YLT because that's all we have room for. It would have been great to have a pit for live music. They are trying to make it more multipurpose, but we already have the Community Center for that. The definition of a performing arts center is for shows - shows where you need a stage, and seating and curtains. Of course it's better than what Yucaipa Performing Arts Center By Natalie Palmer Building to have multipurpose usage; theater groups disappointed

• Cover